Santa Maria del Pi Basilica

The Santa Maria del Pi basilica

The Barcelona audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation on Plaça del Pi, before the basilica of the same name. Austere, with its massive façade and its single rose window, it is one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic in the Gothic quarter.

A church of very ancient origins

The present building, of Gothic style, dates from 1319, but the church of Pi is documented from the year 987, and a tradition evokes a chapel as early as the fifth century. It was around this primitive chapel, located outside the walls of the city, that life is said to have developed, creating one of the first suburbs of Barcino, ancient Barcelona. To think that this former suburb is today in the heart of the centre recalls how cities evolve over the centuries.

What there is to see

Catalan Gothic is recognised by its single nave, lined with side chapels open between the buttresses. Inside, the great rose window and the subdued light invite silence and contemplation. The neighbouring squares, lively with terraces and artists' markets, contrast with the sobriety of the building. It is a place of faith and history to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The Santa Maria del Pi basilica stands on Plaça del Pi, in the heart of the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. An active place of worship, it is visited with respect for the contemplation of the faithful; access follows its own schedule, whose opening times may vary. Appropriate dress is appreciated.

When does the Santa Maria del Pi basilica date from?

The present Gothic building dates from 1319, but the church is documented from the year 987, and a tradition evokes a chapel as early as the fifth century.

What is Catalan Gothic?

A style recognisable by its single nave lined with chapels open between the buttresses, of which the Santa Maria del Pi basilica is a fine example.